Rotameter



N. BREWER June 19, 1951 ROTAMETER Filed June 7, 1946 mw W a m mfi 2 B 1a Patented June 19, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTAMETER NathanielBrewer, Newtown, Pan, assignor to Fischer & Porter Company, Hatboro,Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 7, 1946, Serial No.674,996-

3 Claims. (Cl. 73-209) The present invention relates to remoteindication and control of fluid flow-rate and it relates moreparticularly to new and improved apparatus of the rotameter-type forremote indication and control of the rate-of-flow of milk or the like.

An object of the present invention is to providenew and improvedapparatus for remote indication and control of fluid flow-rate. Anotherobject of the'present invention is to provide an instrument of therotameter-type for remote indication and control of the rate-offlow ofmilk or other fluid requiring special handling for protection againstcontamination, bacterial degeneration, pollution, etc.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention are apparent inthe following detailed description, appended claims and accompanyingdrawings.

Apparatus for remote indication and control of fluid flow-rate has beenwidely used in the past. However, conventional apparatus, as heretoforeemployed, has been found inacceptable for use with milk or other fluidwhich must be carefully handled to prevent contamination, bacterialdegeneration, etc.

Thus, in the commercial handling of milk the like, it has been founddesirable to employ inert materials, such as stainless steel, etc., andto minimize joints, cracks, ledges, corners, blind holes or stagnantpockets wherein bacteria can lodge and multiply. In addition, apparatusfor the industrial handling of milk or the like must be capable of readydismantling to permit frequent cleaning, which usually consists offlushing the apparatus down with a hot water hose or submerging it in atank of hot water.

In view of this, it is desirable, in indicating, recording, integratingand/or controlling the flow-rate of milk or the like passing throughindustrial pipe-lines, to have the indicating, re-

metering float within the tube is determined by the rate-of-flow of thefluid) to provide an exas to energize appropriate remote indicating,.

integrating, recording and controlling mechanism. Apparatus of thisgeneral type i disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No.511,649, filed November 25, 1943, now Patent No. 2,414,086, issuedJanuary 14, 1947.

It is apparent, however, that this conventionaltype apparatus heretoforeemployed, cannot be employed with milk, since the stagnant well wouldpermit the excessive bacterial growth such as would contaminate themilk.

Accordingly, the present invention contemplates a new and improvedconstruction for remote indication, recordation, integration and controlof theilow-rate of milk or other perishable fluid, which eliminatesundesirable features heretofore present and which provides for effectivemeasurement, etc., and, at the same time, minimizes bacterial growth andpermits quick and easy dis-assembly for frequent cleaning.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in theaccompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred,although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalitie ofwhich the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized andthat the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements andorganizations of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Referring to the accompanyin drawings, in which like referencecharacters indicate like parts throughout:

Figure 1 represents a front elevational view of one embodiment of thepresent invention.

Figure 2 represents a vertical cross-sectional view of the embodiment ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 represents a top plan view of the aperturedcoil-cartridge-supporting head formiIlg part of the embodiment ofFigures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 represents a vertical cross-sectional view of a modified formof coil-and-armature arrangement.

In one embodiment of the present invention.

shown generally in Figures 1 to 3, I may provide a rotameter-type unitfor installation within a pipe-line or the like, having a fluid-inletline It and a fluid-outlet line H.

As indicated particularly in Figures 1 and 2. the fluid-inlet line l3may be generally horizontal and may be screw-threadedly connected, as atIii-a, to the horizontal arm of a lowermost T-shaped head or fitting l2having a bottom clean-out cover I3 and having its upper endscrew-threadedly engaged, as at |2-a, to the bottom of a generallycylindrical vertical tube i4.

The upper end of the cylindrical tube i4 is flanged; the flange providedwith a plurality (for example, 3) of circumferentially-spacedscrew-threaded ears l5, adapted for adjustable engagement withwing-bolts is passing through similarly-disposed apertured ears I1formed at the lower flanged end of a metering chamber or tube i8disposed generally in axial alignment with the cylindrical tube l4.

A cylindrical tube I9 is fastened, in fluid-tight 1 relationship to theupper end of the metering chamber or tube l8 and the upper end of thetube I9 is screw-threadedly connected, as at 20, to the fluid-outletline I I.

A generally disc-like head 2|, shown particularly in Figure 3, isadapted to be fastened intermediate the opposed flanges of the tubes l4and IS. The head 2| is provided with a plurality of arcuate openings 22extending axially therethrough and is also provided with a central axialopening 23, the function of which will be hereinafter described. Aconduit 24 extends generally radially through said head 2| and opens onthe underside of said head 2|, slightly removed from the center thereof.The'outer end of the conduit 24 communicates with a connector member 25.

Upper and lower annular gaskets 26 are provided so as to create afluid-tight peripheral seal intermediate the head 2| and the opposedflanges of the tubes i4 and I3 when the'wingbolts are tightened.

A hermetically-sealed elongated coil-cartridge 21 is fastened to theunderside of the center portion of the head 2| and extends downwardlytherefrom within said cylindrical tube l4.

The coil-cartridge 21 has a central axial opening 21-a extendingtherethrough and communicating, at its upper end, with central opening23 in the head 2|.

Disposed within the coil-cartridge 21 are lower and upper end-to-endtransmitter coils 28 and 29 forming part of an electrical impedancecircuit of the general character of that described in my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 511,649, filed November 25, 1943, referred toabove.

The lead-wires from the coils 28 and 29 pass upwardly and outwardlythrough the conduit 24 in the head 2| and terminate in appropriateelectrical contacts within the connector-member whereby quick attachmentand detachment is possible by means of an electrical plug 30 carried byan electric coil 30-11 and adapted to connect with the member 25 so asto complete the electrical circuit between the transmitter coils 23 and29 and the receiver coils (not shown) of the impedance circuit; thereceiver coils being located within remote indicating, recording, in-

- tegrating and controlling unit 3|, which may 4 that manufactured bythe Fischer 8: Porter Company of Hatboro, Pennsylvania.

The connector may be provided with a removable cap 32 to protect theelectrical contacts when the plug 3|! is removed and when the unit iscleaned by flushing or immersing in hot water.

A metering float, indicated generally by the reference character 33, isdisposed for up-anddown movement within the downwardly-tapered meteringtube l3.

The metering float 33 includes a generally cylindrical body-portion 34,a lowermost reduceddlameter tail portion 35 and a concave umbrellalikeflow-constricting head portion 36 extending downwardly and outwardlyfrom the body portion 34 and terminating in a beveled or knifeedgedperiphery 31. v

The periphery 31 of the head portion 36 of the float 33 is generally thesame, in diameter, as the smallest portion of the downwardlytaperedmetering tube I8. Thus, the annular clearance between the periphery 31and the inner surface of the metering tube l8 increases as the float 33moves upward within the tube I8; the position of the float within thetube being determined by the rate-of-flow of fluid passing upwardthrough said tube l8, according to principles well-known in the art.

The tail portion 35 of the float 33 is provided with a lower elongatedextension 38; the exten- $1011 38 being in axial alignment with thefloat 33 and extending through the opening 23 and into the centralopening 21-11 of the coilcartridge 21.

An elongated armature 39 is sealed within the lower end of the extension38. The extension 38 and the armature 33 are so proportioned that whenthe float 33 is in its lowermost position in the tube l8, the armature39 is disposed generally with its lower half within the coil 28 and itsupper half within the coil 29. When, on the other hand, the float ismoved upward (responsive to increased upward-rate-of-flow of the fluidthrough said tube i3) the armature 39 is raisediso that its greater partis within the upper coil 29 as indicated in Figure 2. This creates anelectrical unbalance within the electrical impedance circuit so as tomove one or more armatures suspended within the receiver coils of thecircuit as described in my co-pending application Serial No. 511,649referred to above. The movement of the receiver armature or armaturescan be made to actuate suitable indicating, recording, integratingand/or automatic flow-controlling mechanism disposed within the remoteunit 3 I.

The body portion 34 of the float 33 is provided with an upper extension40; a spider 4| being carried by the upper end of said extension 40. Thespider is formed of a plurality of radiallyoutwardly extending rodswhose outer ends are adapted to contact the inner surface of the uppercylindrical tube l9 so as to guide the float 33 during up-and-downmovement.

A ring 42 is mounted adjacent the upper end of the tube l9 and serves asan upper stop for the float.

The various parts of the unit are constructed of stainless steel orother non-tarnishing material which is not aflected by milk or otherfluid being metered and which can quickly and easily be cleaned andsterilized.

It is obvious that, with the unit described hereinabove, there are nostagnant fluid pockets in which bacteria can propagate so as tocontaminate the milk, etc. That is, there is a continuous fluid pathforthe upwardly moving milk and there is a complete. absence of any wellsuch as ordinarily is required for remote-indicating 'rotameters of thisgeneral nature.

It is apparent that the unit can be quickly and easily dis-assembled forcleaning and sterilizing thereof.

Thus, if it is desired to clean the unit, the electric cord is,disconnected from the member 25 and the plug 30 is connected thereto.

The wing-bolts l6 are then opened so as to separate the tube l8 from thetube l4. The head 2| and the coil-cartridge 21 can then be removed forcleaning, as can also the float 33 and its associated extensions 38 and40. The tubes themselves ean readily be flushed and cleaned bydisconnecting from the pipeline and removing the clean-out cover l3.

In Figure 4 there is shown a modified embodiment of the presentinvention, which generally resembles that of Figures 1-3 except for theconstruction of the transmitter coils, coil-cartridge and armature.

Thus, in the embodiment of Figure 4, the lower and upper transmittercoils 43 and 44 are constructed with fewer turns and the coil-cartridge45 is constructed with an annular compartment having correspondinglylesser radial dimension to accommodate the coils 43 and 44. axialopening 46 of the coil-cartridge 45 has a larger diameter than thecentral opening 2'I-a of Figure 2.

The central To the lower end of the lower float extension 3| is fastenedan armature 41 consisting of a thin-walled light-weight hollowopen-ended cylinder of magnetic material, which fits within the opening46 with only a slight annular clearance. The upper, end of the armature41 is fastened to the float extension 38 by means of a spider 48.

Thus, instead of passing intermediate the armature and the centralopening of the coil-cartridge. as in the embodiment of Figures 1, 2 and3-, the fluid passing up through the central opening 46 can pass throughthe hollow armature 41, thereby to provide greater circulation andfurther to minimize the possibility of development of any stagnantpockets within the coil-cartridge. In

addition, the hollow-cylinder armature construction of Figure 4 furtherreduces the weight of the float assembly, and permits the instrument tobe used with lower flow-rates.

While the unit described herinabove is intended particularly for use inmeasuring and controlling flow-rate of dairy products, such as milk andcream, it is equally well adapted for use with other liquid foodproducts such as vegetable oils, vinegar, egg mixes, coffee extract,tomato juice, carbonated beverages, etc.

The screw threads and fittings are of simple and sanitary construction,complying with National Milk Dealer Association specifications; therebeing no stuiflng-boxes, bearings, links or crevices to permit leakageor contamination.

The novel unit of the present invention provides great savings in space,time and money, when used in dairies or the like, inasmuch as costly andlarge stainless-steel or glass-lined tanks can be eliminated and sincecounting or integration of the total flow can be done simultaneouslywith the measurement, recordation and control of the flow-rate so thatthe tedious measuring of milk depth in open tanks is no longernecessary.

The umbrella-type Ultra-Stabl-Via" metering --spirit or essentialattributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the presentembodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than tothe foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent:

1. A device for remote indication of fluid flowrate comprising adownwardly-tapered vertical metering tube, a chamber disposed invertical alignment with said metering tube, a generally disc-likelheaddisposed intermediate said metering tube and said chamber, said headhaving. a

central axial opening therethrough and beingaxially .apertured. toprovide communicationbetween said chamber and said tube,.means fordetachably connecting said metering tube and saidchamber and said headin fluid-tight sealing relationship, an elongated enclosed coilcartridgefastened to-said head and extending therefrom within said chamber inspaced relationship therewith, said coil-cartridge having a centralaxial opening therethrough in communication with the central opening insaid head, said coil-cartridge having an annular compartment formedtherewithin, a pair of endto-end transmitter coils disposed within saidcompartment, lead-wires extending from said coils through a conduitformed in said head and terminating in a quickly attachable anddetachable electrical connection mounted on the outside of said devicewhereby said transmitter coils can be operatively connected to thereceiver coils of an electrical impedance circuit, a metering floatdisposed within said metering tube and adapted for up-and-down movementtherewithin responsive to variations in fluid flow-rate, a verticalextension carried by said float and extending through the centralopening of said head and into the central opening of said coilcartridge,an elongated armature carried by the free end of said extension anddisposed within the central opening of said coil-cartridge, and meansfor connecting the opposite ends of said tube and said chamber within apipe-line or the like whereby fluid can pass vertically through saidtube and said chamber and across said coilcartridge and through thecentral opening of said coil-cartridge.

2. A device for remote indication of fluid flowrate of foods or likematerials, comprising a downwardly-tapered vertical metering tube havinga flange at its lower end, a cylindrical tube disposed below saidmetering tube, said cylindrical tube having a flange at its upper end, acoil-cartridge comprising an elongated enclosed casing disposed inannularly-spaced relationship within said cylindrical tube andcontaining the transmitter coils of a remote-indicating impedancecircuit and an annular flange constructed and arranged to be connectedin fluid-tight sealing relationship intermediate the flanges of saidmetering tubeand said cylindrical tube, said coil-cartridge having acentral axial opening extending therethrough, and a metering floathaving an annular flow-constricting headportion disposed within saidmetering tube and having a relatively thin elongated rod extendingdownwardly from said head and into the axial opening of saidcoil-cartridge and providing a slight annular clearance therewith, thelowermost free end of said rod carrying an armature disposed within saidaxial opening in operative juxtaposition to said coils. the fluid beingcapable ot-passing upward through said axial opening and around saidcoil-cartridge, said metering tube, cylindrical tube and coil-cartridgebeing constructed and arrangedto be taken apart quickly and easily asthree separate units to facilitate frequent cleaning thereof.

3. 'A device for remote indication of fluid flowrate of foods or likematerials, comprising a tapered vertical metering tube having a flangeat one end, a-cylindrical tube disposed in vertical "alignment with saidmetering tube, said cylindrical tube having a flange at one end, acoil-cartridge comprising an elongated enclosed casing-disposed inannularly-spaced relationship within said cylindrical tube andcontaining the transmitter coils of a remote indicating impedancecircuit and an annular flange=constructed-= and arranged to be connectedin fluid-tight sealing relationship intermediate the flanges of saidmetering-tube and said cylindrical tube, said coil-cartridge having acentral axial opening extending therethrough, and a metering floathaving an annular flow-constricting head-portion disposed within saidmetering tube and NATHANIEL BREWER.

REFERENCES one!) The following references are of record in the file 0!this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,437,247 Fischer Mar. 9, 1948FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 377,299 France July 6, 1807 672,025Germany Feb. 18, 1939 OTHER REFERENCES so A publication entitled NewRotameter Types (Fig. 2) on page 296 of vol. 11 of Instruments,

Dec. 1938, published by The Instruments Publishing C0,, 1117 WolfendaleSt., Pittsburgh, Pa. (A copy is in the Scientific Library of the U. S.Patent Ofice and a photostat is in 73-209 in Div. 36.)

